Flowers, like food, are grown on farms. Fields of flowers are planted, tended to, harvested, and delivered to you through local farmer’s markets, farm stands, and florists. Like food, flowers can be grown using either conventional or sustainable growing practices. There is a network of flower farms across the United States growing flowers in ways that nurture the health and well-being of nature and natural processes. The positive impacts of their growing practices are passed down to the community through pesticide-free flowers, clean water, healthy soil, and abundant biodiversity.
Your decision to support small local farms and local businesses makes a huge difference in the local community. Every purchase is a vote for the quality of products you want and the practices you’re willing to support. Choosing flowers from a local farm has all the benefits of supporting a local shop:
- Investment in the local community and economy
- Reducing your carbon footprint
- Creating connections with makers and growers
This Valentine’s Day, choose to shop small and sustainable for flowers. Here are three women-owned farms in the Nashville area that are providing farm fresh flowers this Valentine’s Day.
Why we love them: Bloomsbury Farm is deeply rooted in all things local and has been supplying the Nashville community with artisan herbs, flowers, and produce for 16 years. Owner Lauren Palmer has made the farm accessible to families near and far through the farm school, farm events, and farm stays.
Where to buy: Shop their produce and flowers by visiting the farm stand, joining their CSA program, or stopping by and saying hi at the Franklin, TN, farmer’s market.
Follow them on IG: @bloomsburyfarm
Why we love them: Jo’s Flower Co. is a farm-to-vase flower farm supplying seasonal, sustainably grown flowers to Nashvillians. Smart water and material reuse strategies help keep their footprint down and their gorgeous flowery output high.
Where to buy: Visit the farm to pick-you-own during the summer months or sign up for a flower subscription to get gorgeous flowers throughout the growing season. For Valentine’s Day blooms, head to Gammon’s Market or the Produce Place. You can also order from them directly if you wish.
Follow them on IG: @josflowerco
Why we love them: McIntosh Field & Flower is a specialty cut flower farm run by sisters Erin & Tara in Murfreesboro, TN. Nestled on 6 acres, they offer high-quality fresh-cut flowers, produce, small batches of honey, and free-range eggs. Using sustainable and regenerative growing practices, Erin and Tera are working to revive what was once single-crop commodity farmland into a lush, bio-diverse farm ecosystem. To supplement farm equipment, their rescue goats and pigs help clear out and till new flower fields.
Where to buy: Richland Park Farmers Market, join their subscription flower service, DoorDash & various grocers and speciality goods retailers in Murfreesboro and Nashville.
Follow them on IG: @mcintoshfieldandflower
To find sustainable flowers near you, search for flowers on Love Local.
